Dn Aonghasa

Dn Aonghasa
Dn Aonghasa (anglicized Dun Aengus)[1] is the most famous of several prehistoric forts on the Aran Islands of County Galway, Ireland. It is on Inishmore, at the edge of an 100 metre high cliff. A popular tourist attraction, Dn Aonghasa is an important archaeological site that also offers a spectacular view. It is not known when Dn Aonghasa was built, though it is now thought to date from the Iron Age.[2] T. F. O'Rahilly surmised that it was built in the 2nd century BC by the Builg following the Laginian conquest of Connacht.[3]
Dn Aonghasa

Dn Aonghasa has been called "the most magnificent barbaric monument in Europe." [4] Its name, meaning "Fort of Aonghas", refers to the pre-Christian god of the same name described in Irish mythology, or the mythical king, Aonghus mac mhr.

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Form and function

The fort consists of a series of four concentric walls of dry stone construction, built on a high cliff some one hundred metres above the sea.[5] Surviving stonework is four metres wide at some points. The original shape was presumably oval or D-shaped but parts of the cliff and fort have since collapsed into the sea. Outside the third ring of walls lies a defensive system of stone slabs, known as a cheval de frise, planted in an upright position in the ground and Interior of Dn Eochla still largely well-preserved. These ruins also feature a huge rectangular stone slab, the function of which is unknown. Impressively large among prehistoric ruins, the outermost wall of Dn Aonghasa encloses an area of approximately 6 hectares (14 acres). Although clearly defensible, the particular location of Dn Aonghusa suggests that its primary purpose was religious and ceremonial rather than military. It may have been used for seasonal rites by the druids, perhaps involving the bonfires that could be seen from the mainland of Ireland.[6] The location also provides a view of as much as 120km (75mi) of coastline,[7] which may have allowed for control over a coastal trading highway.

Visitor notes
The walls of Dn Aonghasa have been rebuilt to a height of 6m and have wall walks, chambers, and flights of stairs. The restoration is easily distinguished from the original construction by the use of mortar. Exploring Dn Aonghasa requires a bit of climbing, and there A view over the karst landscape on Inishmore, is no rail at the edge of the cliff, so it may not be a good place to visit from Dn Aonghasa with small children or people with mobility problems. There is a small museum illustrating the history of the fort and its possible functions. Also in the vicinity is a Neolithic tomb and a small heritage park featuring examples of a traditional thatched cottage and an illegal poteen distillery.[6]

Neighboring sites
Dn Dchatair (Black Fort), Dn Eoghanachta (Fort of the Eganachta), and Dn Eochla are similar prehistoric sites on Inishmore. Dn Chonchir (Fort of Conchobar) is located on nearby Inishmaan.

References
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Placenames Database of Ireland (http:/ / www. logainm. ie/ 1397912. aspx) New Oxford History of Ireland (http:/ / books. google. ie/ books?id=SJSDj1dDvNUC& printsec=frontcover#PPA164,M1) O'Rahilly, T. F. (1984). Early Irish History and Mythology. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. ISBN978-0-901282-29-3. George Petrie (http:/ / www. frommers. com/ destinations/ print-narrative. cfm?destID=226& catID=0226020843) Robert Gibbings Lovely is the Lee Prehistoric Forts (http:/ / www. emmedici. com/ journeys/ aran/ eforti. htm) Bronze Age Bastion (http:/ / www. csoonline. com/ read/ 040105/ fort. html)

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External links
Short YouTube video of the Dun Aengus cliff face (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAh2qlxMDB8) Seven-node virtual-reality exploration of Dun Aengus (http://www.voicesfromthedawn.com/?p=92)

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Dn Aonghasa Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=537703490 Contributors: AenghusOg, Alvaro, Angr, Ardfern, Asarla, Auntof6, Boston, BrownHairedGirl, Canterbury Tail, Cchhrriiss, Celaria, Ceoil, Chmee2, Derekcslater, Drmies, Dunlavin Green, Eroica, Fergananim, HarryHenryGebel, Hmains, Imehling, Kaly99, Kumioko (renamed), Laureapuella, Lilac Soul, Maralia, May09dream, Nixeagle, PBS, Patrickneil, Rannphirt anaithnid (old), Rjwilmsi, Rotational, SMcCandlish, Sarah777, Smb1001, Snappy, Themfromspace, Vanished188, , 11 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Dn Aengus.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Dn_Aengus.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Kaly99 File:Dn Aonghusa 19 Aibren 2009.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Dn_Aonghusa_19_Aibren_2009.JPG License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Dunlavin Green (talk). Original uploader was Dunlavin Green at en.wikipedia File:Dn Aonghusa 2, looking down.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Dn_Aonghusa_2,_looking_down.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Dunlavin Green (talk). Original uploader was Dunlavin Green at en.wikipedia File:Dun Eochla Interior.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Dun_Eochla_Interior.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:Imehling File:Inishmore Central.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Inishmore_Central.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:Imehling

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